Horde Comes From a Mongol Word for a Camp
A horde is a large disorderly crowd. The word entered European languages from Turkic and Mongol, meaning a royal camp.
A horde is a large disorderly crowd or a nomadic group. The word travelled with the Mongol expansion: Turkic *ordu* meant a royal camp or army headquarters, and it entered Polish and German before reaching English. The *Golden Horde* was a Mongol khanate, named from the camp rather than from any suggestion of disorder. It is often confused with *hoard*, a hidden store, which is a completely different word.
- A large crowd. *Hordes of tourists.*
- A nomadic group. *A Mongol horde.*
- Golden Horde — the Mongol khanate. *The Golden Horde.*
- Hoard — the confused word. *A hoard of coins.*
- Turkic — *ordu*, a camp. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | horde | A vast horde. |
| Plural | hordes | Hordes of people. |
| Different word | hoard | A hoard. |
| Turkic | ordu | A camp. |
| Related | Urdu | The language name. |
- Hordes of shoppers filled the street.Crowd.
- The Golden Horde ruled for two centuries.History.
- A hoard is a hidden store.The other word.
The ordu family
- Horde — through Polish and German into English
- Urdu — the language of the camp, from the same word
- Ordu — still means army in Turkish
- Golden Horde — a Mongol successor state
- Hoard — unrelated, from Old English for treasure
Polish *horda*, from Turkic *ordu*, a camp or royal residence, through the Mongol expansion into Europe.
Horde or hoard?
A horde is a crowd of people. A hoard is a hidden store of valuables. They are unrelated words.
Is Urdu related to horde?
Yes. Urdu means the language of the camp, from the same Turkic word ordu.